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Poetry Ireland Review 140 Issue 12

Publications

Poetry Ireland Review 140, edited by Annemarie Ní Churreáin, features new poems from Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Kim Moore, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Peter Sirr, Sonya Gildea, Karl Parkinson, Martin Dyar, Carrie Etter, Caitríona Lane, Paul Perry, Jean O’Brien, and many others. Books reviewed include new titles from Majella Kelly, Nick Laird, Jane Clarke, Mark Ward and The Translations of Seamus Heaney. In other prose, Paula Meehan and Catherine Ann Cullen share their experiences of bringing poetry to prisons; Paddy Bushe reflects on writing in two languages; and Rosaleen McDonagh writes about people’s expectations (including her own) of the Traveller poet. The cover and artwork for PIR 140 comes courtesy of photographer and filmmaker Dragana Jurišić.

Poem of the week

Day Return by Aoife Lyall

They wander the streets with me, searching
for a steering wheel, a trolley, a pram, a hand.

I give them the edge of my scarf, the belt
on my coat, the button on my lapel, stuff them
in my pockets to burrow in the debris of home

receipts from that new old-fashioned sweet shop
wet wipes used for sticky fingers or muddy hands 
tags from new toys, tickets, coins. But it is no use.

Skin cracked, knuckles raw, fingertips barbed
like fishhooks from bottles plunged and scrubbed
in scalding water, my hands will not rest until

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